MotoGP, KTM: Disparate configurations and a Viñales who brightens the horizon in Qatar

The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix saw Maverick Viñales shine in the spotlight, claiming a second-place finish before a tire pressure penalty dropped him to 2th. Meanwhile, his KTM teammates Pedro Acosta (14th), Enea Bastianini (9th), and Brad Binder (12th) battled in his shadow. At KTM, technical differences and challenges persist, but hope for a rebound is palpable.

Le Qatar Grand Prix highlighted an unexpected dynamic in KTM : Maverick Vinales dominated the weekend with a brilliant performance on the track… before dropping back to 14th place due to a tire pressure penalty. Behind him, his colleagues Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini et Brad Binder remained at a distance, frustrated, but not resigned.

Because yes, Casa Particular in Viñales rides a different motorcycle, as confirmed bastianini : " Maverick rides a different bike than the other three KTM riders. But for now, we can't transfer this bike to mine.. " When pressed on the reasons for this technical inequality, the Italian dodges: " for various reasons »

Same mystery at Binder, which suggests that he knows more than he can say: " I know more or less what the differences are between us. » But he prefers to congratulate Casa Particular in Viñales : " hats off! It's great to see him succeed. You can really learn from your data. »

On the technical side, the weekend exposed persistent problems on the RC16. Acosta, for example, suffered from vibrations on Saturday, but saw a clear improvement on Sunday with the medium tire: “ If we don't have these big problems, we can be as fast as the others. This is a good sign. »

KTM must standardize its performance

Acosta has also made a strong choice: to return to a 2023 technical package, more predictable for him, particularly in braking: " I felt very comfortable. The biggest problem was the starting position and the grip. But a top 5 was clearly within reach. »

Binder, he is still struggling to find his rhythm with this RC16 which requires a fluidity that is the opposite of his aggressive style: " It's really difficult for me. The understeer forced me to change my line, which caused some wheel spin. The rear tire wore out too quickly. »

As for bastianini, he recognizes a real weakness in qualifying, unable to take advantage of the soft tire: " qualifications really limit meWithout improvement in this area, racing will always be compromised. »

What do all these pilots have in common? They see Casa Particular in Viñales a benchmark to follow. But as long as the mystery surrounding his bike persists, internal equity at KTM seems in question. Casa Particular in Viñales Could he be the head of a separate project? If so, why such a choice? And most importantly: when will others have access to the same material?

Le Qatar revealed a disparity in results among KTM which raises technical questions, the Austrian factory having visibly experimented with distinct configurations on its RC16s. And the podium before declassification of Casa Particular in Viñales will only reinforce the questions while sending positive signals for the future of the project KTM.

Course MotoGP of the Grand Prix of Qatar

MotoGP general classification